June 2011 Esplanade Update: 340, 330, 320

340 Esplanade Patio Damage

In today’s San Mateo County Times article “Mother Nature threatens more Pacifica cliff apartment dwellers” by Julia Scott we learned that 340 Esplanade is the latest apartment building to experience substantial damage. According to the article, the area indicated by the yellow arrow in the first image,

The apartment building’s side walkway has caved in, taking a drainage grate and safety railing with it. Residents still have full use of their bluff-top patios…

According to the building’s owner Dennis Thomas, the damage was caused by surface water drainage problems on neighboring 330 Esplanade.

This thumbnail shows the current damage (see the SM Times article for the full size image):

These two images show the state of the same portion of the bluff (click for larger size):

August 15, 2010

February 26, 2011

330 Esplanade to be Abandoned

Farshid Samsami, owner of 330 Esplanade, said he now plans to walk away from the property because he can’t afford to fix the bluff. Samsami said,

Things could be solved in advance with the cooperation of (FEMA and) the other agencies, but they say they won’t do it. … We’re not asking for a handout or a whole repair, but at least help us. … It seems like their hands are tied as well.

Once the property is abandoned it will probably become the responsibility of cash-strapped Pacifica. Pacifica building official Doug Rider said that the city might try to get FEMA funding to protect the property.

320 Esplanade: Apparent Neglect

Meanwhile no work is taking place at Millard Tong’s 320 Esplanade building. Both 320 and 330 Esplanade are enmeshed up in lawsuits with a former contractor over unpaid bills and accusations of negligence.

2 Responses to June 2011 Esplanade Update: 340, 330, 320

MILLARD TONG ALLOWED SECTION 8 PEOPLE INTO 310 ESPANAD AS THE FORMER RENTERS LEFT. I DID A OPEN HOUSE A FEW WEEKS BACK FOR A 1 BEDROOM. THE RENT WENT UP TO 1450. FROM 1200. I WAS TOLD BY A NEW MGR. THAT ALL SECTION 8 PEOPLE WILL BE MOVED OUT NOW THAT THE BUILDING IS STABLE TO LIVE IN. THE SECTION 8 PEOPLE SAVED TONGS EMPTY BUILDING WHEN NO ONE WOULD LIVE THERE. NOW HE PLANS TO FIND WAYS TO END SECTION 8 LEAVING DISABLED PEOPLE TO FIND NEW APTS IN A AREA THAT FROWNS ON SECTION 8 STANDARDS AND PEOPLE WHO DEPEND ON THE PROGRAM.

Sounds like difficult times for the existing tenants. I’m sorry to hear that. I know that housing that participates in the Section 8 program seems very limited in our area. Reasonable rents, in general, are getting harder to find — as a result of the housing crisis, I guess. So good news for landlords but not for tenants.